Slider for separable fasteners



Jan. 9, 1945. R. c. LEGAT SL IDER FOR SEPARABLE FASTENERS Filed Feb. 20,' 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR E0351??- 6. LEE/77' ATTORNEYS.

Jan. 9, 1945. c, LEGAT 1 2,366,797

SLIDER FOR SEPARABLE FASTENERS .Filed Feb. 20, 1943 -,2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR I ROBERTQLEGWT ATTORNEYS WITNESS Patented Jan. 9 .1945

llNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE I SLIDER FOR SEPABABLE FASTENERS v Robert C. Legat, New Britain, Conn., assignor to The G. E. Prentice Mfg. -Co., New Britain, Conm, a corporation of Connecticut Application February 20, 1943, SerialNo. 476,539

Claims.

This invention relates to sliders for separable fasteners and has for its principal object the provision of a slider which is so constructedthat it may be readily assembled on or removed from a fastener, structure incorporated in a garment or other structure without the use of tools and at will.

Separable fasteners of the typeindicated usually comprise a pair of stringers having rows of interlocking elements attached along the opposed edges thereof and a slider embracing both rows of elements and movable along such rows for interlocking or disengaging the elements. Movement of the slider on the fastener is usually accomplished by manual operation of a finger tab which is pivotally attached to one plate of the slider, usually the outer one. At one end of the stringers and adjacent to the endmost interlocking elements thereon, are usually provided end stops for limiting the movement of the slider terfere with the sliders proper control of the fastener elements on the stringers, or to make the slider as an operating member wholly inoperative. In most cases this damage to the slider is such that it cannot be suitably repaired except by a skilled workman or without the use of special tools which are not available to the .user. For all practical purposes, therefore, the

damaged slider renders thefastener useless and its inoperativeness may not only cause the article to which it is. attached to become entirely unsuitable for its purposes but as a result thereof may cause serious consequences to ensue unless the damage is repaired quickly and this is not often possible under many conditions.

of use. It is, therefore, the purpose of the present invention to provide a slider which may be quickly and readily .substituted'for a damaged slider on a fastener structure without the use in the closing direction. In the opening direc-" tion, the movement of the slider is usually limited by a third stop which is positioned adjacent to the interlocking elements at the other end of the,

stringers and binds both stringers together. These end stops are permanent parts of the fas-V tener structure, usually consisting of metallic members which are securely clinched onto the reinforced opposed edges of the stringers, and in most cases, define thelimits of the opening in the garment'or structure in which the fastener is incorporated. The slider is thus restrictedin its movements on the fastener both in the opening and closing directions. .The slide! usually comprises a pair ofspaced guide plates which are rigidly maintained in a predetermined spaced relation such that the slider cannot-go beyond the end stops in either the opening or closing direction. The means in the slider for maintain- I ing this spaced relation of the plates usually include an end member, usually-integrally formed withone end of the plates, and a wedge-shaped separating member which may be riveted or otherwise permanently-secured intermediate the plates. Thus when a 'slider'is once mounted on a fastener structure and the end stops thereof are aflixed in proper position, the slider can no longer be renioved therefrom'without the use. of tools or damage to the slider or to the fastener structure.

- tion of the fastener and for enabling the slider elements when it is desired to separate it from of any tools or special equipment in order that the article to which the fastener is attached maycontinue to be utilized for the purposes for which it was designed. V V

In accordance with the present invention,the

two guide plates of the slider are so constructed and arranged that one may be moved relative .to the other to enable the slider to be positioned in proper relation with respect to the interlock-. ing elements on the stringers of a fastener whic is incorporated in an article and intermediate the end stops thereof. Associated with the two relatively movable plates are means for maintaining them in proper spaced relation for opera? to be readily disengaged fromthe interlocking the fastener. The advantages ofthis construction, as well as the novel details of construction thereof, will more readily appear during the course of the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1

I is a top plan view of a. portion of an article hav- Slide fastener structures in use on" articles are often subjected to conditions which are so" severe that the plates of the slider become distorted or'bent, away from their-normal predetermined spacedrelation ina manner either to,in-

ing a fastener carrying a slider embodying the novel features of this invention; Fig. 2 is a righthand side view of the fastener parts shown in Fig. 1 with the upper portion of the, right-hand stringer omitted forthe sake of clearness; Fig.3

is a left-hand side viewof the slider shown in Fig.

1; Fig. '4 is a bottom plan view of the slider shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but' showing the manner in which the two plates may be separated for-assembling the slider on or-removing it from the fastener structure;

Fig. "6 a side view of another embodiment of the invention and illustrating the positions of the parts in this embodiment when the guide plates are in'separated condition; Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing the guide plates clamped in closed position; Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the slider shown in Figs. 6 and 7; Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of this modified slider; Fig. 10 is a front view of the modified slider; Fig. 11 is a side view of a still further modified form of the invention, the parts thereof being adjusted to enable the slider to be positioned on illustrated .-in Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings, the

reference characters H1 and H designate the stringers of the fastener structure which are usually constituted of fabric and stitched to the material of the article forming the side edges of the opening in the article to be closed by the fastener structure. The stringers l and H are reenforced along their opposed edges to provide a satisfactory gripping medium for the rows of interlocking elements i2 and 3 clamped to such edges. As is customary, the elements of each row are staggered with relation to the elements in the other row so that the elements of both rows may be successively brought together and progressively interlocked by means of a slider which is generally indicated by the reference numeral l4. Also clamped to the opposed reenforced edges of both stringers El and in the region immediately below the lowermost interlocking element in the rows and positioned closely adjacent to the latter. is an end stop for limiting the movement of the-slider M in the opening direction. Clamped to the stringers l0 and H adjacent the uppermost interlocking elements in the rows thereof, are end stops i6, 16 which limit the travel of the slider in the closing direction. Thus the stops l5 and LB define the range of movement of the slider onthe fastener'and in the ordinary fastener maintain the slider in permanent association with inwardly t provide the side guide flanges l9 and 20, respectively. Also formed integrally with the upper ends of the plates l1 and H! are two inwardly projecting member's 2| and 22, respectively. The two plates l1 and I8 are secured to the inner faces of a pair of jaws 23 and 24, respectively, so that the flanges l9 and member 2| of the plate |1 extend in opposed relation to the flanges 20 and member 22 of the plate 18. The inner surface of the jaw 23 is provided with a recess through which extends a portion of the pull tab 24-which is grasped by the user to manually move the slider l4 longitudinally of the fastener along the rows of elements. The jaw 23 forms part of a base plate 26 positioned above the slider plates l1 and I8 and extending transversely thereto,'while the jaw 24 forms part of a base plate 21 positioned similarly above the slider plates l1 and 8. The two plates 26 and 21 are offset with relation to their respective jaws, as 'is shown in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings. so that the inner engaging surfaces thereof extend substantially through the longitudinal central axis of the slider and such plates are positioned adjacently above the inwardly projecting members 2| and 22 of the slider plates. The lates 26 and 21 are provided with aligned apertures extending through the longitudinal central axis of the slider and through which apertures extends a tubular rivet 28 which connects the two plates together in pivotal relation. Thus the two jaws 23 and 24- and consequently the slider plates" and I8 are movable relative to each other about the rivet 28 as a pivot. The lengths of the projecting members 2| and 22 are such that their free ends do not engage to prevent the flanges H! and 20 from coming into contact with one another, although it is within the contemplation of the invention to make the lengths of such members 2| and 22 such that they function as stops to restrict movement of the plates towards each other, as in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 11 to 14 of the drawings, such restriction being predetermined and depending upon the sizes of the elements in the fastener structures on which the slider may be used. The projecting members limit movement of the plates l1 and I8 away from each other by engaging with the lower transverse edges of the base plates 26 and 21.

The upper end of the plate 21 above the rivet 28 is cut away to form a cam surface 29 (see Figs.

'3 and 5) adapted to be engaged by a cam member 30 having a finger portion 3| and an offset portion 32 which extends first at right angles to the member 30 and through an aperture in the plate 26 and then in substantial parallelism'to such member 30 to terminate at a point substantially flush with the camming face of the member 30. The space between the outer end of the offset portion 32 and the member 30 is slightly less than the thickness of the plate 26 in the region thereof 'traversed by the cam member 30 so that when such plate is between such member it is necessary t apply positive manual force to the finger piece 3| to move the cam member 30 from one position to another and when such member finger piece is released, the member 30 will remain in position until positively removed therefrom. It will be noted also that the offset portion 32 is so formed with respect to the cam member 30 that when the latter is in engagement with the cam surface 29, any forces tending to separate the slider plates 11 and I8 will be transmitted in a straight line to suchofiset portion and will not tend to cause rotation of such member about the offset portion 32 as a pivot.

It will be understood from the foregoing, that when the cam member 30 is pivoted away from the cam surface 29, as is illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the slider plates l1 and. I8 can be moved apart to their fullestlextent, that is, with the projecting membei'sZl. and 2-2 in engagement withthe lower transverse surfacesof the jaw base plates 26 and 21. The slider-can thenbe readily inserted on the fastener structure intermediate the stops I5 and- I6 in-such manner that the lower narrowed portions of the plates l1 and I8 overlie a plurality of interlocked elements if the fastener structure is onlypartially opened or abut against the bottom stop |5 if the fastenerv structure is fully opened. The side guide flanges 18,

1 plate ll. end of the member 38 is a pull tab 25' and a cam 2,300,797 drawings toenable the slider to be assembled at any point on the fastener even though the latter is entirely opened, as with such formation of the her a, the, slider plates n' and I8" will be in flanges the mounted slider can be moved in the ments, the cam member 30 is actuated by operation of theflnger piece 3| to engage the cam surface 29 and is moved on such surface until the plates l1 and I8 have been closed to a position where the slider can be actuated properly by means of the pull tab 25. Should it be desired to lock the slider in any position on the fastener structure while in use, this can be accomplished by further moving or advancing the cam member 30 with respect to the cam surface-29 until the slider plates l1 and H! are securely clamped on the fastener elements. When it is desired to again actuate the slider the cam member 30 is retracted. an amount suflicient to enable ready actuation'through the pull tab 25. When it is desired to remove the-slider from the fastener structure, this can be readily accomplished by retracting the cam member 30 until it is dising the jaws 23 and 24 and enabling the slider plates I, 1- and ill to be spread apart.

-slidably connected together, for movement to-- ward and away from each other, by means which include an inwardly extending member or portion 35 integral with the upper end of the slider engaged from the cam surface 29 thereby releasproper relation for locking or disengaging the elements of the fastener structure. In-this position of the cam member 39, it cannot be moved outwardly to release the plates i1 and I8 by any forces tending to spread such plates in the use of the slider, as the high point in the cam surface is offset with respect to the pivotal connection of such member with the separating member 38 and accordingly, any forces so acting on the plates l1 and I8 will only tend to further lock the cam member 39 in position.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 11 to 14 of the drawings, the purposes of the invention v substantially wedge-shaped to enable it to function as a separating member in the operation of the slider. The remaining portion of such member 45, that is, that portion thereof which projects from the slider plate ll" when the inturned portions 2| and 22' 'of the plates l1" and |8", respectively, are in abutting engagement, is provided on. two opposite surfaces with portions of screw threads which are in threaded engage-' ment with a female screw thread provided on the member or plate 46 disposed in parallelism with the slider plates. The outer end of member is spread to maintain the plate 46 and slider plate II" assembled thereon. On either side of the threaded aperture of the plate 46, such plate is provided with an outwardly projecting ear 41 plate l'l" andhavinga reduced portion 36 which Y extends through an aperture provided in a prolonged portion 31 of the slider plate l8; The

outer end of the portion 36 is turned and slightly flattened to permanently lock the portions 35 and 31 together. Secured in any suitable manner to the plate I I is a separating member 38 which is wedge-shaped intermediate the plates l1 and I8 and which extends loosely through an aperture provided in the slider plate II. The outer end of the member 38 is enlarged to limit the spread of the slider plate I I with respect to the slider Pivotally mounted on the enlarged in this modified construction, the'plate I1 is readily movable toward or away from the plate II when the cam member '39 is in the position locking projection 48 adapted to engage with at indicated in Fig. 6 of the drawings, such movement being confined in one direction by the elongated portion 31 engaging with the. shoulders formed between the member 35 and its reduced portion I8 and being confined in the other vdirection by the deformed outer end of such portion 8 andthe enlarged end portion of-=the' sep- 3 arating member 38. the slider isproperly mounted on the interlocking elements. of a fastoner structure, the cam member 39 is pivoted toward the slider plate l'l' .to enable its cam surface 4! toengage the exteriorsurface of suc plate and force'the plate l'l' towards the pie.

when cam-member}! has been moved to locking recess or aperture provided in the plate II". It will thus be seen, that by grasping the finger tab 'QI" and screwing the plate 46 down on the thread portions of member 45, the plate I!" may be moved toward the plate ll" until the inwardly projecting portions 2| and 22' of such plates engage in' abutting relation. The plates. I'l and II" of the slider will then be in proper spaced relation for interlocking or disengaging the elements of the fastener structure. The parts are soyconstructed that when the portions II and 22' are enga'ged, the locking projection 48 will engage with the aper- V "ture 49 i i the slider plate ll', to lock the plate in position until pofltively disengaged from such locked relation with theplate II".

It will appear from the foregoing, that this invention provides a novel separating or detachable slider which can, be attached readily to or removed from a fastener structure incorporated in an article, or more broadly speaking, in a fastener structure so constructed and/or arranged that a slider of usual construction cannot be separated therefrom'unless some elementis disassembled. As the attachment or removal of the slider dlfis not require the use of any tools and can be accomplished by any user, it has special advan- Me as a repair sliderto be substituted for the regular slider of a fastener structure which has be- "come damaged or rendered inoperative, until the latter can be repaired or anew slider of usual construction incorporated in the fastener. While I have illustrated andfldescribedseveral formsand/or modifications may be devised which do not depart from the spirit of my invention or 1 the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

' 1. A slider for a separable fastener of the type which includes a pair of stringers provided with interlocking fastener means along their opposed edges, comprising a pair of plates adapted toreceive therebetween the interlocking means of a fastener, meanssupporting said plates and constructed and arranged to permit movement of such plates relative to one another to vary the space therebetween, and manually operable means mounted on said supporting means for limiting the range of movement of said plates relative .to each other.

2. A slider for a separable fastener of thetype which includes a pair of stringers provided with interlocking fastener means along their opposed edges, comprising apair of plates adapted to re-' ceive therebetween the interlocking means of a fastener, means supporting said plates and constructed and arranged to permit movement of said plates relative to each other to vary the space therebetween and within fixed predetermined limits, and means connected to said supporting means for restricting the range of movement of said plates relative to each other to a range less than the range defined by said fixed limits, said last mentioned means being manually operable.

3. A slider for a separable fastener of the type which includes a pair of stringers provided with interlocking fastener means along their opposed edges, comprising a pair' of plates adapted to receive therebetween the interlocking means of a fastener, means supporting said plates for movement relative to each other to vary the space therebetween, means on said supporting means permanently fixing the range of movement of said plates away from each other, and manually operable means mounted on said supporting means for temporarily restricting the range of movement of said plates relative to each other to a range less than said permanent range. V 4. A slider for a separable fastener of the type which includes a pair of stringers provided with I interlocking fastener means along their opposed edges, comprising a pair of plates adapted to receive therebetween the interlocking means of a fastener, means supporting said plates for movement relative to each other to vary the space therebetween, means on said supporting means for limiting the range of movement of said plates away from each other and adjustable means mounted on said supporting means for restrictingthe movements of said plates away from each other to a range less than said first mentioned range, said last mentioned means being manually operable.

5. A slider for a separable fastener of the type surface so as to move said plates from a spread condition into closer spaced relation.

6. A slider for a separable fastener of the type which includes a pair of stringers provided with interlocking-fastener means along their opposed edges, comprising apair of plates adapted to receive therebetween 'the interlocking means of a fastener, means supporting said plates for movement relative to each other to vary the space therebetween, cooperative Ecamming' members operable to move said plates from a spread condition into closer spaced relation, one of said members being fixed with relation to one of said plates and the other being mounted on said supporting means for movement relative to such plate, and said camming members being constructed and arranged to maintain said plates in such closer relation against forces tending spread the plates apart.

7. A slider for a separable fastener of the type which includes a pair of stringers provided with interlocking fastener means along their opposed edges, comprising a pair of plates adapted to receive therebetweenthe interlocking means of a fastener, means supporting said plates' for movement relative to each other to vary the space therebetween, a movable cam engaging surface fixed" with relation to one of said plates and arranged so that pressure thereon will cause movement of such plate towards the other plate, and

a camming membermanually movable about afixed axis, said member being mounted on said supporting means and adapted to cooperate with said surface when operated in one direction to move said plates from a spread condition into closer spaced relation, said surface and camming member being constructed and arranged to,

maintain said plates in, such closer relation against forces tending to spread the plates apart and to maintain said plates clamped against the interlocking means of the fastener to prevent movement of the slider longitudinally of the separable fastener. w

8. A slider for a separable fastener of the type which includes a pair of stringers provided with interlocking fastener means along their opposed edges, comprising a pair of plates adapted to receive therebetween the interlocking means of which includes a pair of stringers provided with a fastener, means supporting said plates for movement relative to each other to vary the space therebetween, means for limiting the movement of said plates toward.,each other, 7

means on said supporting means for limiting the movement of said plates away from each other, and adjustable means mounted on said supporting means for restricting the movement of said plates away from each other to a point intermediate the range defined by said limiting means.

9. A slider for a separable fastener of thetype which includes a pair of stringers providedwith interlocking fastener means along their opposed edges, comprising a pair of plates adapted to receive therebetween the interlocking means of a fastener, a pair of pivotally connected jaws supporting said plates for movement relative each other to vary the space between such plates, a cam engaging surface provided on one of said jaws and a manually movable cam member provided on the other of said jaws and constructed and arranged to coact with said surface to move said plates from a spread condition into closer relation..

10. A slider such as defined in claim 9 in which each of said plates are provided with side guide 2,366,797 flanges extending in opposed relation to the side guide flanges of the other plate and in which the interior surfaces of said plates intermediate their guide flanges are flat and unobstructed.

11. A slider such as defined in claim 9, in which said plates are positioned intermediate said jaws and said jaws have a portion extending transversely of said plates and adapted to coact with an inner portion of said plates to limit' the movement of said plates away from each other.

12. A slider such as defined in c1aim,9 in which said cam member is pivotally connected to one therebetween, a separating member attached at one end to one of said plates and extending loose- 1y through the other of said plates to project beyondits exterior surface, means ,forrestricting the range of movement of said'other plate on said separating member and adjustable means of said jeans for movement about .a fixed axis relative to such jaw and includes a finger piece adapted to be grasped by the user, a portion adapted to engage with said cam-engaging sur- "on the projecting end of said separating means to move said other plate from a spread condition into closer relation with said first-mentioned plate.

14. A slider such as claimed in claim 13 inwhich saidadjustable means comprises a cam member pivotally connected to, said separating memberand adapted upon movement towards said other plate to engage the exterior surface of the-latter and to force said plate into such closer relation.

15. A slider such as claimed in claim 13 'in which said adjustable means includes a member threadedly engaged with the projecting end of said separating means and adapted to'be screwed down thereon to force said other plate towards said first-mentioned plate, and cooperative locking means provided on said member and said other plate and adapted to interlock to prevent inadvertent movement of said member relative to said other plate.

ROBERT C. LEGAT. 

